Born in Germany, 1961
Living in Melbourne’s inner city for 25 years
Painting full time and exhibiting since 2001
Completed Diploma of visual arts at RMIT in 2005
Ralf Kempken has been cutting and spraying multi layered stencils for years. From portraiture, iconic Melbourne cafes and modernist architecture, the stencil is used to spray images in countless variations. The underlying concept has always been that we filter all we see through past experiences and memories. Thus followed the evolution of the stencil which, up until now has been used as the tool to produce the painting, into the artwork itself. We all screen and frame our personal view of the world and with this in mind the stencils have turned into screens. Artwork that can be seen through and create optical illusions. The screens are intended as daily reminders that we have a conscious choice in how to look at the world around us.
All work is hand cut into paper, acetate, canvas or timber. With some outside help they can also be cut into steel. Ralf has been exhibiting continuously since 2001.
SOLO
2024- 'Melbourne Espresso', Manyung Gallery Malvern
2024- Artist in Action, Manyung Gallery Flinders
2023- Recognising Melbourne, Manyung Gallery Strathmore
2022- The Hometown Tourist, Manyung Gallery Strathmore
2020- Pattern Recognition, Manyung Gallery Malvern
2020- Melbourne Patterns, Studio Gallery Hawthorn
2020- Facades, St Heliers Gallery, Abbotsford Convent
2019- Confluence, Abbotsford Convent
2019- Melbourne Perspective, Manyung Gallery Malvern
2019- City Shadows, Studio Gallery Hawthorn
2018- South Yarra Art House
2018- Urban Art, Manyung Gallery Malvern
2018- Shadows and Memories, Studio Gallery Hawthorn
2017- South Yarra Art House
2017- Into The Distance, Manyung Gallery Malvern
2017- Shadow Theatre, Hawthorn Studio Gallery, Hawthorn East
2016- On Reflection, South Yarra Art House
2016- Urban Art, Manyung Gallery, Malvern
2016- Optique. Hawthorn Studio Gallery, Hawthorn East
2015- Depends on how you look at it, St. Heliers St. Gallery, Abbotford Convent
2015- Perspectives, Hawthorn Studio Gallery, Hawthorn East
2014- Screening, Hawthorn Studio Gallery, Hawthorn East
2013- Stencils to Screens, Hawthorn Studio Gallery, Hawthorn East
2012- Unknown, c3 contemporary art space, Abbotsford Convent
2011- Lines, Sticks & Leaves, St. Heliers Gallery, Abbotsford Convent
2010- Filter, Ochre gallery, Collingwood
2009- Now Screening.., famouswhendead gallery, Nth. Melb.
2008- c3 contemporary art space launch, Abbotsford Convent
2008- Interface, Powerhouse Arts Centre, Brisbane
2008- Interface, gallery launch, famouswhendead gallery, Melbourne
GROUP
2025- Winter Wine Weekend Exhibition, Manyung Gallery Mount Eliza
2024- 'The Collector's Showcase', Manyung Gallery Malvern
2024- Easter Long Weekend Features, Manyung Gallery Flinders and Sorrento
2023- Affordable Art fair Singapore, Manyung Gallery
2023- The Collectors Canvas, Manyung Gallery Malvern
2023- Summer at Manyung, Manyung Gallery Malvern and Strathmore
2023- Sorrento Urban Art soirée, Manyung Gallery Sorrento
2022- Affordable Art Fair Sydney, Manyung Gallery
2022- Grand Opening, Manyung Gallery Strathmore
2021- 'Inside, Outside', Manyung Gallery Malvern
2019- St Kevins, Toorak
2018- Scotch College
2018- St Kevins, Toorak
2017- Flanegan Art Prize, Ballarat
2017- winner, St. Kevins Art Show
2017- finalist, Wyndham Art Prize
2017- Stencil Art Prize, Adelaide
2016- Stencil Art Prize, Sydney
2015- finalist, Banyule Award for Works on Paper, Ivanhoe
2015- YKCDT, aMBUSH Gallery, Sydney
2015- finalist, highly commended, Hazelhurst Works on paper award, Sydney
2013- winner, Australian Stencil art Prize, Sydney
2013- winner - people’s choice award, Banyule Works on paper, Melbourne
2013- finalist, Flanegan Art Prize, Ballarat
2012- winner, Australian stencil art prize, Crissie Cotter Gallery, Sydney
2012- finalist, National Works on Paper Award, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery
2012- the art of photographic expression, Gallery One, Gold Coast
2011- finalist, Australian stencil art prize, Cockatoo Island, Sydney
2010- finalist, Australian stencil art prize, Sydney
2010- Paperworks, c3 contemporary art space, Abbotsford
2010- artist residency Scotch College
2009- Australian stencil art prize, Sydney
2008- off the wall finalist – Art Sydney
2008- Macarthur Cook art awards finalist, 45 downstairs gallery, Melbourne
2008- Melbourne stencil festival, featured artist representing Australia & Asia
2008- off the wall finalist – Art Melbourne
2007- Stencil festival, Perth
2007- Urban art agenda, Perth
2007- Stencil festival, Sydney and Brisbane
2007- Fine cuts, Ballarat art gallery
2007- Melbourne Stencil Festival
2007- Selected cuts, Fringe festival Adelaide
2006- Stencil Festival, Melbourne & Sydney
2005- Melbourne stencil festival
PUBLIC ART COLLECTIONS
2022 Petersham RSL Development
Aluminium Screen Facade
2021 Royal Cildrens Hospital 150th Birthday Art Trail,
2019 Brickyards Night School
Aluminium stencil installation, Marrickville Public Library, Sydney
2017 Past Futures
City of Yarra Public Art Lightbox Project, North Carlton Library South Wall
2015 Richmond Fence
Dimmeys Development, Richmond Railway Line
2014 Fair Work, Fair Pay, Fair Play
HV McKay Bridge Mural, Sunshine, Regional Rail Link Development
2014 Changing Face
Perforated aluminium screen installation, West Footscray Railway Station
2012 Mali in the city (Swanston and Collins Street)
for Melbourne Zoo 150th Birthday Art Trail